Towns and Nature: Lawrenceburg, IN: Dearborn (XN) Tower: B&O vs. Big Four

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Lawrenceburg, IN: Dearborn (XN) Tower: B&O vs. Big Four

(Satellite, it was right next to the levee.)

Kevin Josche posted
My photo of XN Dearborn Tower in Lawrenceburg, IN looking east toward Cincinnati on 8/15/87. XN used to guard the ex-B&O Cinti-St. Louis mainline at a diamond with an ex-NYC branchline. This scene is vastly different today--the NYC branchline was removed, there is a casino nearby, and XN Tower was acquired from CSX by the Whitewater Valley RR and moved to Connersville, IN, where it is today as part of a collection of historic RR structures from southern Indiana.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Kevin's post
There were two crossings in Lawrenceburg. I determined that Dearborn was the eastern crossing. It appears that the tower was in the southeast quadrant of the crossing. I noticed that CSX still does street running through the town. How often do they have to close the flood gates on the CSX tracks?
https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/scene/metadata/full/5e83d8e4870f4473/AR1IP0000160146/
Paul Hillman: Dennis DeBruler you are correct in your assessment. They don't have to close the gates very often. It takes a pretty good flood.

The 2005 SPV Map was my source that Dearborn was on the east side of town. The name of the crossing on the west side of town was Lawrenceburg. The Big Four tracks on the west side of town now connect to the CSX tracks as an industrial stub. At least the Giles Chemical Corp. still gets rail service.

1943 Lawrenceburg Quad @ 24,000

Darren Reynolds posted four photos with the comment: "Baltimore and Ohio Railroads 'XN' tower (Dearborn) Lawrenceburg, Indiana"

Tim Shanahan shared

Richard Fiedler shared

Not built like other B&O towers "XN" tower was all B&O..

The NYC crossed here at a Dimond.. in this picture looking down the B&O at "XN" tower This is the St louis line...I'm not sure when it closed.

Photo by: John Fuller collection (No Date)

Doug Diebel: CSX still runs through there mostly from Seymour east to Queensgate.

The model board at "XN" tower

Photo by: Dominic Morrone (No Date)

A C&O E-Unit does the honors with a passenger train

Passing "XN" tower as it crossed the NYC.

Photo by John Fuller collection (No Date)

John Carr: Man, that train is close to the tower! I recall reviewing, on behalf of thr DNR Div. of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, the grant-funded relocation of the tower to Connersville from Lawrenceburg. I'm generally not in favor of moving historic structures from their historic context, but this one was a good save.

IT'S BEEN SAVED!! A beautiful "XN" tower now restored

It was moved to The Whitewater Valley railroad.In Connersville, Indiana

Photo by: Wally Mattes June 7,2019

Darren Reynolds posted seven photos. These are the three new photos.

Dale DeVene: There was also an XN in Leipsic, Ohio on the B&O.

Timothy Garvey: Been there done that a couple thousand times. Had to stop the Circus Train one year. The strong man was beating the shit out of an acrobat for fooling around with the wife. One night while on strike duty had the fire barrel going with a pickup truck full of beer. A carryall pulled up around 4am & asked to join the party. It was Lonnie Mack & his band leaving a gig in Aurora. We partied way past dawn.

Chuck McAbee: Was a Extra Operator on the St. Louis Div. 1965-1967. Never worked Dearborn but spent time there kibitzing with other Extra board Operators from Washington.. Gallon jugs would get placed under leaking tank cars at the nearby whiskey plant.

Daniel Rebich: Why did the Big 4 cross the B&O twice on diamonds in Lawrenceburg? did they go to the power plant on the west side of town? I know they went to Seagrams plant.

Paul Hillman: Daniel Rebich once at each end of town. That routing was the original Big 4 mainline to Indianapolis. The main was eventually rerouted north of town but they kept the trackage from the east to get to the distillery. It crossed the B&O twice to reach it. When the casino was built, all of that trackage was removed except for the stub to the distillery which now is accessed by I&O via trackage rights off the CSX line.

Greg Smith: It now resides in Connersville Indiana.

Keith Corman: Greg Smith however, the colors used are NYC, but should be painted in B&O tan with dark brown trim,

I used to live just down High Street and visited Dick Kagy and Ton Cantrell, day trick operators, quite often when Dearborn Tower was in operation. Both great railroaders!

Kevin Lewis: Greg just beat me to it, but it's about an hour north of Lawrenceburg along the Whitewater Valley RR (former Big Four line to Cincinnati). Great photo opportunity when the excursion train passes it.